, 1887-03-13

A half dozen managers succeeded each other,
and their aggregate losses for tho first season
wero over $50 900. Then, as ever after. the
managers blamed their luck on the system of
box holders having free admission. -Four
shares gave the holder a box and a single
share gave him a seat. There was a capital
stock OF s200, 900 In 200 shares. Maretzek.
the Strakoschs, the Graus and Mnpleson all
blamed the system and kept throwing the
dice in the gamble of opera management. A
following season saw the first performance of
"Semiramide," on Oct. 80, 1855, and of al
Trovatore" on April 80, 1856, and in the fol
lowing year, with such artists as B%rignoli,
Amodoi, Vestvali, La Grange and Badiali,
many operas were produced for the first time
In America. Piccolomini came in October,
1893, and in the winter Of that year Altman
and Strakosch took the helm, and on Nov. "a,
1858. introduced the peerless, perennial Patti in
Lucia" Jacob Grau in 1859 had n chance at
thee aademy and put "Dinorah'' on the stage.
The war came, and people had no taste
for opera or surplus money to spend on it.
On May 81, 1866, the building went up in
flames. Maretzek had had a lease of several
years, and Gazzaniga, Kellogg, Phillips and
Ronconi had appeared. December, 1868, saw
German opera under Carl A~rschurz, and on
the ID Flowtow's "Stradellan was given
its first performance. On the 25th of No
vember preceding the opera of Faust" had
been given the first Of its many per-
formances in America, with Clara Louise
Kellogg as the Marguerite. LA Juive"
had been the opera on tho night of the fire,
which swept into ono Of the biggest conflag-
rations the city has seen In recent years. The
building, which had cost $3.50, 900, was in
sured for $4,000, and the stockholders stood
e heavy assessment, and in March, 1867, tho
academy had been rebuilt and was ready for
occupancy. The first performance was q
masked ball for the benefit OF the
unfortunate Maretzek. "The Barber was
the first opera, with Miss Hauk in q
minor part; 1870 had DAILY as a manager,
with Janauschek in heavy tragedy; Is7i
saw fine opera, under the management of
Max and Maurice Strakosch. Nilsson SANG
In "Mignon," and in 1872 Lucca came in
"LAfricaine," and in 1878 "Lohengrinr and
aida" were given, and Campanini made his
first appearance on Oct. ! In "Lucrezia. n
Salvini also used the academy. In 1875 Hess
tried English opera, and In the spring Of
1876 Tietjens sang with Brignoli. In 1873
German opera was again tried, with Pappen-
helm. Mapleson then came with oil his mill
tary blow and buster to give the later gener-
alton of box holders opera with many OF the old
favorites. He began on Oct. 1O, 1878, with
Hauk and Campanini in ia Traviata." His
second year saw Gerster, and In 1880 ANDRE
and Valleria were singing. In 1881 Patti ro-
turned, and for three opera seasons was the
Mapleson star Of success. He then demanded
a big subsidy, and, not getting it, left the
academy to its rapid decline. Jan. 4, 1885,
was the date of tho advent of the American
Opera company.
Apart from opera the academy has been
for twenty years the place where the Phil
harmonic concerts were given, while the
catalogue of the monster meetings which
have been held there would fill a column.
The academy has, too, been tho scene on
many grand balls and assemblies, and the
artist has given a picture of one of these
above.